Blades and wizardry.
Fearsome monsters and fearless magicians.
Intrepid warriors and illicit gangs.
Spirits and sentient trees.
Primordial enemies and fables come to life.
Set in the same world as the epic fantasy Convent series, beginning with A Dead Wizard’s Dream, this collection of eleven fantasy short stories takes a closer look at lands and peoples less explored in the Chronicles … this collection of eleven fantasy short stories takes a closer look at lands and peoples less explored in the Chronicles series so far.
From the barbaric and barren Lama Kulul Desert where dwell sinister lizard-men to the lush and lawless Archipelago where barbaric Goblins roam, this adventure-filled anthology is brimming with action, magic and old lore.
Featured in Chronicles of Maradoum Volume 3:
The Fainting Wizard
The Sandman and the Serpents
The Shaman and the Ghouls
Ghosts of the Madlands
Severing the Head of the Golden Snake
Yeti Mountain
The Tree That Eats Goblins
Sir Jombo and the Lindworm
The Strategos and the Centaurs
Return of the Yaoguai
Battle for Wampcha Hill
more
Another instalment of legends from all over the Maradoum world, where the Convent series also take place as well. But these are legends from before that time, as is stated in small print at the beginning of this book. We meet people, humanoids, and creatures of all sorts from every corner of Maradoum. Some of these societies and cultures have already featured in the ‘Convent’ series; others are completely new to me. The author writes that he gets a lot of inspiration from Chinese history and cultures. But I think that there’s hardly any culture that hasn’t found his way into Ross’ stories. That’s a large part of their charm. All the stories involve some supernatural element: sorcerers, wizards, ghosts or demons, and none of them can be completely trusted for they have always some trick upon their sleeve. Most of the legends involve some sort of battle, war, or fight and the outcome often depends on whose sorcerer or witch is more crafty or cunning. They’re not necessarily full stories, but they may be fragments of a larger narrative. They’re fun to read in small doses between other books or you can read them all at once if you prefer.
1. THE FAINTING WIZARD
The Chimanchi are notorious barbaric steppe clans, indulging in animal-molestation, blood sacrifice, cannibalism, and black magic and live in wasteland beside a wall on the other side of which were lush pastures. Now they have now united to pillage and plunder the remote and weakened outposts of Quing Tzu. The Tzunese are outnumbered and rely on their wizard for their protection from fireballs and what more spells are thrown by the enemy witch. That is until their wizard faints from exhaustion and there is nothing to protect them from the Witch’s sinister sorceries. The wizard has one last trick in his sleeve.
2. THE SANDMAN AND THE SERPENTS
The magic and fighting skills of the Sandpeople are legendary; they have protected their waterholes in the past mercilessly. The tribe that’s living in the oasis of Cocquelicot Sablonneux are visited by 2 delegations at the same time; a large group nomad from the western fringes of the desert with camels and horses and a smaller, ragged band of lizard people. Both claim that they’re just passing through.
3. THE SHAMAN AND THE GHOULS
Fwarada had already been old – the ancient healer was venerated in the community for his great talent for medicine and magic. Day after day, Takshi would seek out his company, trying to learn all he could from the wise old crackpot. When a man dies from a snake-bite and there’s a red half-moon that same night, there are whispers of old forgotten legends: “There was once a story … a legend … that told of a long-forgotten race of demonic beings who rise from their fiery gorge on nights when the blood moon sails the sky …”. Legends that hold more truth than they know….
4. GHOSTS OF THE MADLANDS
3 men are on the run after committing murder in the Fringe. They seek refuge in the Madlands on the edge of the Alfa Wald, inhabited by elves. Men don’t return from these lands, you know … not with their sanity intact. They keep seeing the souls of people they wronged in life or murdered.
5. SEVERING THE HEAD OF GOLDEN SNAKES
There had not been a Comandanté on the Swash Isle for years, thanks to infighting among the many gangs. Now, however, with one of the two biggest gangs severely weakened by the loss of its leader, the Golden Snakes thought they had won, He who last laughs …
6. THE TREE THAT EATS GOBLINS
This is a tale from the Goblins. Havlak has been struck by a Fanged Aspen who has drunk his blood, almost draining him. To save her boyfriend, Morgra needs to find the Fanged Aspen that did this and take one of his fruits for Havlak. While chasing the Aspen, they find 3 giant sloths and those are really huge and even more dangerous than the walking tree.
7. SIR JOMBO AND THE LINDWORM
Word had reached the Lord Protector in Pacia Castle to the far south that a Lindworm had been attacking villages in the peaks’ shadow, thereafter fleeing back into the crags. Each time it appeared, both people and livestock went missing. So, Lord Protector Orden Venton had commanded a dozen Knights, to comb the area for signs of the legendary beast. The Worm happens to speak Kwi and tells his story to a Chilpean Knight.
8. THE STRATEGOS AND THE CENTAUR
There have been rumours of a new leader among the Centaurs, a leader who has the capacity to bind all the disparate groups into one cohesive army. Life coverage of the battle, as seen through the eyes of a dying man.
9. THE RETURN OF THE YAOGUAI
Fishermen and even children have gone missing from Jidao village, so they want to send divers to investigate what sort of monster lives in the river. But Zao Fung, a wizard courting the Elder’s daughter offers his help. He discovers a whole colony of Yaoguai; sentient but horrible and vicious monsters.
This is actually a love story, but of course, there’s an epic fight involved.
10. THE BATTLE FOR WAMPCHA HILL
The A’chawampa, a tribe in the wampcha (opium-like narcotic) region, is under attack from the Ashin Var (who have the best opium). They stand no chance as the raiders brought a bunch of hedge wizards. Desperate, young Sim prays to their God Wampcha.
11. YETI MOUNTAIN
Tsuni Qinshin receives a knock on his door to reveal a Yeti that tells him that they have kidnapped his lover and if he wants to see her again, he is to come to Yeti Mountain. Then he drops dead at the door. Yetis are believed to be dumb animals, so speaking and kidnapping is something new. Tsuni asks his 2 best friends for help. They soon discover that the Yetis are not the vicious beasts they think.
As I read each new Chronicles of Maradoum I’m struck by how much I enjoy it. These seemingly disparate collections of short stories from this fabled land of Maradoum are nothing but pure entertainment and transport the reader right into the middle of each story. This third\d volume had several of my favorite stories yet. If you enjoy fantasy stories, you might give this series a try, you just may find yourself addicted to this strange land of Maradoum that is filled with wonder.
Chronicles of Maradoum Volume 3: A Fantasy Anthology, my fifth read from author Ross C. Hughes, who I’d never read before March of this year. I was given a review copy of Secrets of the Ashlands (Convent Series Book 2) & since I’d gotten A Dead Wizard’s Dream (Convent Series Book 1) back in November of 2019 I wanted to read it first, and now this. I’m glad I did. Well-written and developed, drawing on earlier books in the series. Conanesque in nature, 170pages/6-hours 38-minutes, but reads longer due to the detail & development of the story. In re-reading this audiobook Michael Beckett’s narration added to an excellent book’s enjoyment. I look forward to reading more in this series & from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 – July 24, 2018).